This week’s mystery movie was the 1933 Warner Bros. film The Keyhole, with Kay Francis, George Brent, Glenda Farrell, Monroe Owsley, Allen Jenkins, Helen Ware, Henry Kolker and Ferdinand Gottschalk.
Screenplay by Robert Presnell.
Based on the story Adventures by Alice D.G. Miller.
Edited by Ray Curtiss.
Art direction by Anton Grot.
Photography by Barney McGill.
Gowns by Orry-Kelly.
Dialogue direction by Arthur Greville Collins.
Vitaphone Orchestra conducted by Leo F. Forbstein.
Directed by Michael Curtiz.
Further information on The Keyhole is available from the AFI Catalog.
It’s unclear whether The Keyhole was ever commercially released. It aired on TCM in 2021. In Alan K. Rode’s 2017 biography of Michael Curtiz, The Keyhole gets exactly one paragraph.
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I thought Kay Francis deserved another mystery movie and here we are!
Hard to say what The New York Times thought of this film. I’m guessing Mordaunt Hall found the story somewhat involved and the resolution a bit contrived.
That’s exactly what he says (March 31, 1933):
The current program at the Radio City Music Hall sways from the sublime to the mundane, for the principal stage attraction is John Murray Anderson’s impressive visualization of Oscar Wilde’s poetic tale The Young King and the screen feature bears the suggestive title of The Keyhole.
….And now for the film. Here one finds a jealous husband with a pretty wife. Soon there enters on the scene a handsome private detective, who is engaged to follow the pretty wife to Cuba, and also a forbidding first husband of the pretty wife who seeks to extort money from her….Miss Francis acts her role with the desired lightness. But even so the story is a little too obvious to be much more than a good-natured piece of work.
For Monday, we have our mysterious leading man and leading lady on mystery cruise.
Update: This is George Brent and Kay Francis. Gown by Orry-Kelly.
For “Tricky Tuesday,” we have a thirsty mystery guest.
Update: This is Allen Jenkins.
Brain Trust roll call: Stacia (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guests), Suznchaz (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Monday’s mystery fellow), Dan Nather (Monday’s mystery woman), B.J. Merholz (Monday’s mystery woman), Benito (Monday’s mysterious couple) and Aljolson (Monday’s mysterious couple).
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have a mysterious man with a mysterious mustache.
Update: This is “weasel deluxe” Monroe Owsley and Kay Francis as Back of the Head Woman.
Brain Trust roll call: Megan and Thom (Monday’s mysterious fellow), Sarah (Tuesday’s mystery man), Mary Mallory (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Greg (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Diane Ely (Tuesday’s mysterious imbiber), Incredible Inman (mystery movie and all mystery guests), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mysterious tippler), Sylvia (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Anne Papineau (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Roget-L.A. (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Dan Nather (mystery movie and all mystery guests) and Sheila (Tuesday’s mystery guest).
For “Aha Thursday,” Tuesday’s mysterious imbiber has an elegant companion.
Update: This is Allen Jenkins and Glenda Farrell.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s mysterious fellow and Back of the Head Woman), Anne Papineau (Wednesday’s mysterious fellow), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mysterious “weasel deluxe”), Funky PHD (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Sylvia (Wednesday’s mysterious fellow and Back of the Head Woman), Mike Hawks (mystery movie, Monday’s and Wednesday’s mysterious guests), L.C. (mystery movie and mysterious cast), Dan Nather (Wednesday’s mysterious fellow) and Megan and Thom (mystery movie, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Woman).
For Friday, we have a frontal view of our leading man and leading lady.
Update: This is Kay Francis and George Brent. Gown by Orry-Kelly.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mysterious couple), Sylvia (Thursday’s mystery couple), Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery couple), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery couple), Chrisbo (Thursday’s mystery couple) and Dan Nather (Thursday’s mystery woman)
ladailymirror.com 
The Keyhole (1933)! I would recognize George Brent’s back anywhere. Sounds like a joke but it isn’t! Next to my beloved George Brent is my beloved Kay Francis.
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Replying a second time so I get notifications, sorry for the comment clutter
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George Brent and Kay Francis in “The Keyhole” (1933)
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George Brent, Merle Oberon in ‘Til We Meet Again (1940)
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That’s definitely Kay Francis, but the movie is not ONE-WAY PASSAGE. I need more to go on from here . . .
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Kay Francis.
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wild guess: George Brent, Merle Oberon in TIL WE MEET AGAIN 1940
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looks more like Kay Francis!
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George Brent and Kay Francis
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The image has the look of “One Way Passage” ’32 or “‘Til We Meet Again” ’40, but I think both of those movies would be too well known for our mystery film.
Maybe this is a ‘movie within a movie’ moment?
No real guess yet.
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At first, I thought it might be One Way Passage, but the gentleman looks more like George Brent. So, I will guess ‘Til We Meet Again.
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On Tuesday it’s Allen Jenkins.
‘
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Allen Jenkins today.
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THE CASE OF THE CURIOUS BRIDE. Warren William and Margaret Lindsay Monday, and Jenkins today.
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I was wrong. THE KEYHOLE. George Brent and Kay Francis Monday, Jenkins today.
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George Brent, Kay Francis and Allen Jenkins in The Keyhole?
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Allen Jenkins on Tuesday?
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Allen Jenkins today. That really narrows it down! I’m guessing the movie is “The Keyhole,” and Monday’s mystery folks are George Brent and Kay Francis, held over from last week.
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Allen Jenkins in The Keyhole.
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The Keyhole 1933
Mon – George Brent and Kay Francis
Tues – Allen Jenkins
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George Brent, Kay Francis and Allen Jenkins in “The Keyhole”
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Allan Jenkins for Tricky Tuesday?
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George Brent, Kay Francis, Alan Jenkins in The Keyhole.
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That’s Allen Jenkins today, which makes the movie THE KEYHOLE (1933). And I’m guessing that makes Kay’s companion (from Monday) George Brent.
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Allen Jenkins for Tuesday?
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Monroe Ownsley and Kay BOTH.
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On Wednesday, Monroe Owsley looking like he’s cast in wax.
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Weasel Deluxe Monroe Owsley.
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Tuesday’s mystery man is the great Allen Jenkins. Monday’s couple is George Brent and Kay Francis, and the film is “The Keyhole.” Wednesday’s mystery mustache belongs to Monroe Owsley.
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Wed – Monroe Owsley and BOTHW Kay Francis
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George Brent, Kay Francis and Monroe Owsley in THE KEYHOLE.
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The Keyhole (1933) w/Kay Francis, George Brent, Allen Jenkins, Glenda Farrell, Monroe Owsley…
BTW I am no longer receiving your Mystery Photos, had to search old posts to find it, did you lose me? What can I do? L.C
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Monroe Owsley, who probably ruined more women on the screen than any other actor during the pre-code era.
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I think our movie is The Keyhole, with Kay Francis, Allen Jenkins and Monroe Owsley.
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Allen Jenkins and Glenda Farrell.
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Thu – Allen Jenkins and Glenda Farrell
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Allen Jenkins and Glenda Farrell
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Allen Jenkins and Glenda Farrell.
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Allen Jenkins and Glenda Farrell?
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Glenda Farrell today.
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You can’t fool me! Friday’s mystery couple is also Monday’s mystery couple. And a striking pair they are, too, George and Kay.
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kay and George.
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Kay Francis and George Brent.
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Kay Francis and George Brent
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